Dong-A University in Busan announced on October 16 that it will launch a new department for international students, the Department of Culinary & Food Business, in March 2027. The university has begun recruiting freshmen for the program.

The school has appointed four food industry professionals as adjunct professors, including chefs who appeared on Netflix's Culinary Class Wars, the cooking competition series that has drawn attention in Korea and abroad.

What is the program like?

All classes are taught in Korean. In the first year after enrollment, students learn basic cooking alongside 300 hours of Korean language education. The goal is to support both their major studies and their adjustment to daily life in Korea.

Who are the instructors?

| Instructor | Role | Subject | |---|---|---| | Lee Mi-young | Adjunct professor | Korean cuisine and large-scale cooking | | Park Ji-young | Adjunct professor (owner-chef, Nau Namyeong) | European cooking, desserts, and wine | | Jeong Yong-jae | Adjunct professor (head chef, Chaolan at Lotte Signiel Busan) | High-end Chinese cuisine | | Park Ki-seop | Adjunct professor (owner-chef, Sogonggan Dining) | Fine dining |

Lee Mi-young, nicknamed the 'school lunch master' on the show, brings 15 years of experience from school cafeterias. Park Ji-young appeared on the program as 'Kitchen Gangster.'

What facilities does the university offer?

The university built practice rooms for K-food, Western, Chinese, and Japanese cooking, along with a bakery and dessert room and a fermentation and aging storage room.

For international fans

The department reflects a growing interest in learning Korean food through formal training. The university plans to work with the World Kimchi Institute, the Korean Traditional Food Research Institute, and local food companies to train graduates who can promote K-food globally. Prospective students should check the university's official admissions page for application details.